Ted Nugent’s latest album is “ShutUp&Jam!” Photo courtesy of the artist

POP

Sia, “1000 Forms of Fear,” (Monkey Puzzle/RCA), 3 Stars

Sia Fuller identifies herself as “a basket filled with pain” on her sixth album, but it’s actually more like a Dumpster — and an industrial-sized one at that. The aptly titled “1000 Forms of Fear” comes with a harrowing backstory; after the worldwide success of 2010’s “We Are Born,” Sia recoiled from stardom, numbing herself with drugs and alcohol and even planning suicide until a friend intervened, sending her into rehab. The Australian singer and songwriter was musically productive during this time, however; she wrote songs for Rihanna (“Diamonds”), Beyonce, Britney Spears, Flo Rida and David Guetta, among others, and her “Elastic Heart” (with Diplo and the Weeknd) was a single from “The Hunger Games — Catching Fire” soundtrack. “1000 Forms of Fear,” not surprisingly, reviews the painful past few years, digging with therapeutic resolve and unapologetic candor into insecurities and romantic turmoil, often with disturbingly violent images and metaphors. The music, much of it co-written with album producer Greg Kurstin, follows suit, flowing from dark electronic ambience to full-bodied anthemic choruses, with only occasional glimpses of hope and optimism; by the time Sia declares “I’ll walk through fire to save my life,” it’s a welcome relief because we weren’t exactly sure if that’s where she was headed. The shifting tempos of “Burn the Pages” are intriguingly experimental, while “Hostage” is the only real moment of poppy levity, though the lyrics are as dark and devoid of hope as anything else on the album. It’s definitely uneasy listening, but there’s musical gain in Sia’s pain here.

ROCK

Ted Nugent, “ShutUp&Jam!” (Frontiers) 2 1/2 Stars

At this juncture, forty-six years since “Journey to the Center of the Mind” and nearly 40 since his first solo album, with a new set of knees to boot, Ted Nugent could be phoning it in — and some would say the Motor City Madman did on some of his ’90s and ’00s releases. But “ShutUp&Jam!,” his first set of new tunes in seven years, hits the vintage Gonzo mark with tightened songwriting (light on but not devoid of political screeds) and, of course, plenty of fleet-fingered guitar heroics — as well as cameos by Sammy Hagar (“She’s Gone”), longtime Nugent singer Derek St. Holmes (“Everything Matters”) and Detroit Wheels/Rockets drummer Johnny “Bee” Badanjek. Nugent stretches out on the punky (yes, punky) “Never Stop Believing,” while the relative brevity he demonstrates on the rest of the album serves him well.

Blackberry Smoke, “Leave a Scar: Live in North Carolina” (self-released): A sweaty concert set that will leave you ready to catch these Atlanta Southern rockers next time they come through town.

Blackhawk, “Brothers of the Southland” (Loud & Proud): The country duo of Henry Paul and Dave Robbins are back in action with their first new release in 12 years.

Rick Braun, “Can You Feel It” (Artistry): The trumpeter continues to tread the lines between jazz, New Age and pop on his first new album in three years.

Chicago, “Now Chicago XXXVI” (Chicago/Frontier): The veteran group recorded its latest album remotely and while on tour, resulting in one of the most vintage sounding Chicago records in years.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, “CSNY 1974” (Rhino): The singer-songwriter supergroup’s legendary tour is chronicled on both a three-CD box set (with companion videos) and a single-disc collection, all of which beat any bootleg you’ve heard.

Dirty Heads, “Sound of Change” (Five Seven Music): The ska-rock group from California expands its sound for its third album, incorporating dance club and rap flavors for a more diverse collection.